# CVE-2008-4281: Path traversal in n/a

> Administrators with Datastore.FileManagement privilege can escalate privileges via directory traversal in VMware ESXi and ESX.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-26mj-pvmw-qq79

## What is CVE-2008-4281?

CVE-2008-4281 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Vmware Esx, published on 10 Nov 2008. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in VMWare ESXi 3.5 before ESXe350-200810401-O-UG and ESX 3.5 before ESX350-200810201-UG allows administrators with the Datastore.FileManagement privilege to gain privileges via unknown vectors.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-4281?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Vmware Esx, Vmware Esxi.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-4281?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-4281 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-4281 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-4281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Esx

- [CVE-2013-1405](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1405/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2012-1516](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1516/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2013-3658](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3658/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2012-3288](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-3288/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2012-1517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1517/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-4281 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-4281 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Vmware Esx, published on 10 Nov 2008. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-4281 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Vmware Esx. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4281/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4281/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4281
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4281
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-4281

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4281/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.